Inspiration, ideas and information to help women build public speaking content, confidence and credibility. Denise Graveline is a Washington, DC-based speaker coach who has coached nearly 100 TEDMED and TEDx speakers--many featured on TED.com--and prepared speakers to testify before the U.S. Congress, appear on national television, and deliver industry keynotes. She offers 1:1 coaching and group workshops in public speaking, presentation and media interview skills to both men and women.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Sure, developing public speaking skills can help you deliver a big speech or major presentation. But you can put these workhorse skills to use in these 36 additional ways, in settings that range from everyday life to unusual situations. Will this list help you make the case--to yourself or to your boss--for seeking out training to hone your skills?

Formal speaking situations:

Testifying in court

Arguing for a change in policies before your city or county council

Testifying before the Congress or a state legislature

Debating (in a meeting, or in a formal debate)

Presiding over a ceremony--awards, graduations, and more

Asking a question of a political candidate in a public forum

Making a formal motion to change a procedure or law

Asking for a raise or increase in your budget

Positive but important speaking situations:

Chairing a meeting

Presenting an award

Honoring a friend or colleague on a special occasion

Speaking up in favor of a colleague's point or project

Rallying your team to a cause or effort

Thanking a mentor, senior colleague or a good work effort

Accepting thanks, an award or other recognition

Negative but important speaking situations:

Delivering a eulogy

Sharing bad news with a work team

Fielding questions from hecklers

Fielding questions from a hostile or upset crowd

Advocating a less popular point of view

Family situations:

Explaining what you do for a living to the uninitiated (which would be most of us)

Handling questions about your personal life

Everyday work situations:

Conference calls

Webinars

Podcasts

Presentations to your boss or board

Presentations to clients

Negotiations (for raises, deals and more)

Talking and listening to customers

Working with clients

Explaining your product or service

Discussion and chat

Framing and telling a story to illustrate your point

Anticipating what your friend will want to say or hear

Focusing a discussion on just a few points

Speaking so you can be understood and appreciated by people of all ages and backgrounds

Making your point clear

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